KNOWLES. STEWART: AND I’M STEWART MOORE. DEPUTIES SAY IT’S A PROBLEM WITH HUGE PARTIES AT HOMES. THE REPORTER: THIS IS WHAT DEPUTIES SAW WHEN THEY RESPONDED TO A PARTY, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE GATHERED AT A VACATION HOME IN THE WINDSOR SUBDIVISION. DEPUTIES SAY THEY HEARD GUNFIRE AND ULTIMATELY FOUND A 17-YEAR-OLD GIRL SHOT, BULLETS HIT SEVEN HOMES AND TEN VEHICLES. AN AR-15 RIFLE WAS ALSO FOUND NEARBY, ALONG WITH A LOADED MAGAZINE. >> WE CAN’T ALLOW THIS. WE CAN’T ALLOW THIS, WHETHER IT’S PEOPLE FROM OUR COMMUNITY OR OUTSIDERS, THIS IS THE WORST OF THE WORST. WHEN SOMEBODY HAS SO LITTLE DISREGARD FOR THE HUMAN SAFETY OF ANOTHER PERSON, JUST TO RANDOMLY SHOOT IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. THE REPORTER: ABOUT 60 CASINGS FROM SEVERAL CALIBER WEAPONS WERE ALSO FOUND. SO FAR, THREE MAGAZINES WERE FOUND. THIS ISN’T THE FIRST TEAM OCEOLA COUNTY HAS SEEN THE LARGE BLOCK PARTIES NEAR VACATION HOMES. IN APRIL, A SIMILAR PARTY ALSO TURNED VIOLENT, RESULTING IN A HOMICIDE. SHERIFFS OFFICIALS SAY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IS PLAYING A MAJOR ROLE IN WHY THESE PARTIES ARE TAKING PLACE. >> PLACES LIKE BARS AND CLUBS WERE SHUT DOWN, SO THIS WAS THEIR FORM OF ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE PAST MONTHS. BUT NOW, IT’S BECOME MORE OF A ROUTINE THING AND MUCH MORE WE SEE IT MUCH MORE NOWADAYS THAN WE DID YEARS BEFORE. THE REPORTER: THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS NOW ASKING FOR COMMUNITY’S HELP IN LOCATING THESE PARTIES AHEAD OF TIME, SO THEY CAN TAKE A PROACTIVE APPROACH. THEY’RE ALSO ASKING LEGISLATORS AND HOMEOWNERS TO STEP UP. >> THEY’RE THE ONES THAT ARE ALLOWING THE HOMES TO BE RENTED FOR THIS PURPOSE. THE REPORTER: IN OCEOLA COUNTY, WESH 2 NEWS. STEWART: SHOOTING AT THE PARTY IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION. SHERIFFS OFFICIALS SAY THEY PLAN ON STEPPING UP PATROL IN
Dozens of gunshots fired as deputies break up massive party in Kissimmee
When deputies responded to noise complaints near a vacation home in the Windsor Hills subdivision, they saw hundreds of people gathered for a party around the block, heard gunfire, and ultimately found a 17-year-old girl injured.
When deputies responded to noise complaints near a vacation home in the Windsor at Westside subdivision, they saw hundreds of people gathered for a party around the block, heard gunfire, and ultimately found a 17-year-old girl injured. They say bullets hit seven homes and ten vehicles. An AR-15 rifle was also found nearby, along with a loaded magazine. “This is the worst of the worst when someone has so little disregard for the human safety of another person, just to randomly shoot in a residential neighborhood,” Osceola County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Major Jacob Ruiz said.About 60 casings from several caliber weapons were also found. So far, three men face illegal weapons charges.This isn’t the first time Osceola County has seen these large block parties near vacation homes. In April, a similar party also turned violent, resulting in a homicide.Sheriff’s officials say the COVID-19 pandemic is playing a major role in why these parties are taking place. “Places like bars and clubs were shut down so this was their form of entertainment in the past months, but now it’s become more of a routine thing and we’re seeing it much more nowadays than in years before,” Ruiz said.The sheriff’s office is now asking for the community’s help in locating these parties ahead of time, so they can take a proactive approach. They’re also asking legislators and homeowners to help stop allowing homes to be rented for the purpose of throwing a party.
OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. —
When deputies responded to noise complaints near a vacation home in the Windsor at Westside subdivision, they saw hundreds of people gathered for a party around the block, heard gunfire, and ultimately found a 17-year-old girl injured.
They say bullets hit seven homes and ten vehicles. An AR-15 rifle was also found nearby, along with a loaded magazine.
“This is the worst of the worst when someone has so little disregard for the human safety of another person, just to randomly shoot in a residential neighborhood,” Osceola County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Major Jacob Ruiz said.
About 60 casings from several caliber weapons were also found. So far, three men face illegal weapons charges.
This isn’t the first time Osceola County has seen these large block parties near vacation homes. In April, a similar party also turned violent, resulting in a homicide.
Sheriff’s officials say the COVID-19 pandemic is playing a major role in why these parties are taking place.
“Places like bars and clubs were shut down so this was their form of entertainment in the past months, but now it’s become more of a routine thing and we’re seeing it much more nowadays than in years before,” Ruiz said.
The sheriff’s office is now asking for the community’s help in locating these parties ahead of time, so they can take a proactive approach. They’re also asking legislators and homeowners to help stop allowing homes to be rented for the purpose of throwing a party.
